Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-01-08
THE Cumberland Times of Monday

strong reason why the State Constitu-
tion should be amended.
The same day Judge Hoffman took
occasion to refer to the legality of the
existing method of drawing juries.
On the other hand, as stated by the
Neus::
Mr. Semmes formally challenged the array
of the grand jury on behalf of two persons
whose cases are likely to come before it, on
the ground that the whole jury was i'm
properly drawn He will also make objection
| in criminal and civil cases in which he is
counsel as they come up for trial, for the
same reason. He will file written obiec-
ton or plea, and the matter may go to the
Court of Appeals for settlement.
This entire business goes to show
something radically wrong at the
bottom of the jury system, and, it'll
out at all rejecting upon the present
able bench of this county, it could
hardly be otherwise with the judges
themselves selected through the hurly-
burly of politics.
The average jury, as will be seen
during this term of Court, is against
the State. A petty prejudice, or mis-
placed sympathy, concurrence with
legal plausibiiities, and its unpro-
fessional character, are weaknesses
unredeemed by but few features of
strength.
A good judge, however, appointed
by tribunal competent to select from
men only OF known ability and in
tegrity, understanding evidence as
we'll as law, ought to be able to rem
der verdicts just and far more salts
factory than twelve so-called peers.
His tenure limited only by age, it may
be, and resting practically on good
behavior, he has to secure and main
tain reputation. The pride of hold
ing a high and honorable Office is a
coordinate incentive, and knowing
no mans interests as against another's,
he ought, and would, in nine of ten
cases, Fright with justice that which
power had wronged." He could not
atfold to do otherwise. He might
frequently be called upon
g x to sever and divide
A hair 'twixt north and northwest side"
But so much the better II he can do it
fairly and intelligibly.
In the light of economy the abol-
ition of the jury system would amount
to an immense saving to the people
consummation most devoutly wished.
A FEW weeks ago we had occasion
to suggest that the premiers of labor
organizations should have their own
salaries Topped off during any strike
they may order. For this we were
called to account by an esteemed
neighbor and our crushing ignorance
of labor organizations unfeelingly
exposed.
But it has turned out that we reck-
oned wiser than we knew. In Phila-
delphla, Dec. "a, the 7ocsin, born,
reared, and brought up among
Knights of Labor, said:
From the number of 'secret circulars pub
lished by the head of the noble order it is to
be inferred that the distinguished gentleman
is trying to make it appear at least that he is
earning his princely salary Of s., 600 year
Many a poor knight of Labor, if not on
the verge of starvation, is certainly not earn
ing more than enough to keep body and soul
together during this Christmas season, while
the heads of the order are Ievelng in all the
-uxuries their princely salaries afford. The
officials certainly have bettered their con-
dition. Pile on the assessments.
We leave the Iocsin to the tender
mercy of the Homecoming Rerieso.
If our memory be not at fault the
Rerie,o reproved the JOURNAL also for
inpeaching the great end and aim of
Providence in creating the walking
delegate. But again, suddenly and
unexpectedly, word comes through
the New York Sun as follows:
There is some tall, of forming the "Im-
proved Knights of Labor Circulars have
been sent to dissatisfied knights in this city.
1t is said that some of the 49's knights who
have not been suspended have been enlisted
III the new movement. They propose to
take all the dissatisfied knights in and re-
organize them. There is not to be any big
salaries in the new organization nor officers
with rowing cOm missions
With no unfriendliness for the order
farther than that involved in an
abiding skepticism of the propriety
and safety of secret organizations to
effect public purposes, we are really
glad to see that all indications point to
purgation of men unworthy of its
membership and methods destructive
of peace and prosperity. The leaven
of good is working; the bad must
slough off, and in time, it is not too
much to expect, the order, as an open
institution, will exert that wholesome
influence which at this hour is the
dream of those who revere its laws
as affording the privileges as well as
the programme of the sanctuary.